Page:Life and death of Robin Hood, the renowned out-law.pdf/17



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So that his highness would forgive Him and his merry men all; If not, he must in the green wood live, And take what chance did fall. The king would fain have pardon'd him, But that some lords did say, This precedent will much condemn Your grace another day.

While that the king and lords did stay Debating on this thing, Some of the out-laws fled away Unto the Scottish king; For they suppos'd if he was ta'en, Or to the king did yield, By the commons all the rest of's train, Full quickly would be quell'd.

Of more than full an hundred men, But forty tarried still, Who were resolved to stick to him, Let fortune work her will: If none had fled, all for his sake Had got their pardon free; The king to favour meant to take His merry men and he.